DUI Saturation Patrol operations planned, Sept. 23-30

Officers from the Ridgecrest Police DUI Enforcement Team will deploy Sept. 23-30 to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers in the department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign.

DUI Saturation Patrols will deploy between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests.

“This is a ‘zero tolerance’ crackdown so Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!” said Police Chief Ron Strand.

DUI can impact the economy in addition to the pain and suffering of those immediately affected.

.Conservatively, a fatality has a $1.4 -million impact, an injury $70,000 and a crash that only damages property nearly $9,000.

“The Ridgecrest Police Depart-ment will be keeping the pressure on through enforcement and public awareness so that we can continue saving lives and reach the vision we all share,” said California Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher J. Murphy.